CUYAHOGA FALLS, Ohio — On Tuesday night, Libert Bozzelli fulfilled a lifelong dream — at 97 years old, he was awarded his high school diploma.

Bozzelli graduated with the Cuyahoga Falls High School class of 2022, walking the stage at Blossom Music Center.

The World War II veteran’s diploma is not ceremonial, said his grandson, Brent Hovey, a Falls High School teacher who introduced his grandfather during the ceremony.

“Libert wanted to earn it,” Hovey said. “So a few weeks ago, he sat down and took graduation requirement tests in math, language arts and reading, and he scored above 90% on all three.”


What You Need To Know

  • On Tuesday night, Libert Bozzelli was awarded his high school diploma at 97

  • Bozzelli graduated with the Cuyahoga Falls High School class of 2022

  • The World War II veteran passed the required exams, scoring higher than 90%

  • Bozzelli joins 17 members of his family in graduating from Cuyahoga Falls High School

Bozzelli joins 17 members of his family in graduating from Cuyahoga Falls High School, Hovey said, including his great-grandson, Dominik Czetli, who received his diploma during the same ceremony.

Bozzelli didn’t graduate from high school with his class in 1942 because at 17 years old, with World War II raging, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, transferred to the Army Air Corps and served in Casablanca, Morocco, Hovey said. Returning to the States, he trained other soldiers at a bombing range in Georgia.

At 17 years old, with World War II raging, Libert Bozzelli enlisted in the U.S. Army. (Photo courtesy of the Bozzelli family)

In 2015, 71 years after leaving the Army, Bozzelli was honored as a World War II veteran, taking an Honor Flight to Washington D.C., where he served on the Honor Guard and placed a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

“It’s an experience he calls one of his greatest honors, and one that I was lucky enough to share standing next to him,” Hovey said.

Upon discharge from the Army, Bozzelli married his sweetheart, Madeline, who was his wife for 75 years. Madeline passed away May 12. The couple had 4 children, 6 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, and 6 great-great-grandchildren.

Bozzelli also “found his niche,” career-wise, a Hovey said. His grandfather became a sheet-metal worker, and served as labor-union business agent and union president for the next 50 years, becoming one of the longest serving labor-union business agents in U.S. history.

Bozzelli never thought he would be able to return to school, he wrote in an email.

Libert and Madeline Bozzelli were well-known philanthropists in Greater Akron. (Photo courtesy of the Bozzelli family)

“Education is so important and I am so blessed to be able to continue my education even at my age,” he said. “I always wanted to get my high school diploma, but in my day, I had the war, then I had to come back to take care of my parents and my new bride. I hope this inspires everyone that it’s never too late to do what you want! Even at 97, you can still accomplish your goals: you can still graduate!”

Bozzelli has given much back to his community over the years, Hovey said. He and Madeline were well-known philanthropists in the Greater Akron area, serving on countless local boards and raising more than $200 million for area organizations.

Among the boards Libert Bozzelli served were Akron Symphony Orchestra, the Akron Civic Theatre, and Cuyahoga Falls General Hospital, now Western Reserve Hospital, which he served as president.

With an interest in mental health ahead of time, Hovey said, Bozzelli founded and served as president of the Suicide Prevention Organization, and was president of the Mental Health Board. He also became the first president of Kent State University’s Fashion School Board.

Bozzelli also served as a Cuyahoga Falls City Councilman for 19 years and as a Summit County Councilman for four years.

In 2020, the city of Cuyahoga Falls renamed a section of Broad Boulevard “Bozzelli Boulevard” and set up a bocce court named "Bozzelli Court" at the city’s Quirk Cultural Center.

Libert and Madeline Bozzelli were married for 75 years. Madeline passed away in May. (Photo courtesy of the Bozzelli family)

Bozzelli’s granddaughter, Lauren Hovey, takes great pride in being a grandchild of Libert and Madeline Bozzelli, she wrote in an email.

She is also humbled by her grandpa’s achievement in graduating from high school.

“I have learned so much from my grandpa over the years,” she said, “whether it's something simple like how to play a good card game of rummy 500 or best strategies when playing bocci, or more important things like what it means to be an Italian-American, or how to always do something you are passionate about and help those in need.”